The Buddha told plenty of stories with really good Dhammic messages, like the mustard seed. I just don't see the point for a story such as this: not from the cannon, not teaching wholesomeness, adhammic.

I just don't get it and I still don't understand what 'Buddha is fake' even means.

alan wrote:Whether or not he has ordained doesn't matter much. The story is boring and pointless.

Well..... maybe it is, maybe it isn't. That is up to each individual. However, it is important that we respond to monks with respect. And just for the record, I am not singling anyone out. I just wanted it to be known. It seemed that people were getting upset and I didn't want anyone to respond in a manner that they would regret later.

Don't feel too bad--humor or metaphorical allegories don't sit well with this literal -minded bunch. I once posted a humorous anecdote about seeing a guy dressed as Jesus walking down the side of the road at 3 AM and the thread immediately devolved into microanalyses of religious points of view. I've just about given up on this forum. It seems to have attracted the anhedoniacs of the Buddhist world. Which is too bad, I've found the longer I've practiced the more I've learned to as they say, lighten up. May all sentient beings find something to laugh about once in a while.

J

Author of Redneck Buddhism: or Will You Reincarnate as Your Own Cousin?

I was taught from an early age to question what I don't understand. I don't understand this story, so I questioned it. I meant no disrespect and apologise if the way in which my posts are read does not match my intention.

So back to the story, what does 'Buddha is fake' mean? Does it mean that Nibbana is unobtainable and, if so, how does anecdotal evidence of reincarnation suggest that Nibbana is obtainable?

Bubbabuddhist wrote:It seems to have attracted the anhedoniacs of the Buddhist world. Which is too bad, I've found the longer I've practiced the more I've learned to as they say, lighten up. May all sentient beings find something to laugh about once in a while.

Mawkish1983 wrote:I was taught from an early age to question what I don't understand. I don't understand this story, so I questioned it. I meant no disrespect and apologise if the way in which my posts are read does not match my intention.

So back to the story, what does 'Buddha is fake' mean? Does it mean that Nibbana is unobtainable and, if so, how does anecdotal evidence of reincarnation suggest that Nibbana is obtainable?

Respectfully, I just don't get it.

All that the young monk could see was his elder's suffering, in spite of his wholesome actions, which he performed for the whole of his life.So in his view the wholesome actions didn't lead to wholesome results.This directly means(to him) that the law of karma as told by the Buddha doesn't hold good.It then implies that the noble 8th fold path, which is based on purifying one's conduct by doing wholesome actions, which would then lead to gradual lessening of suffering uptill nibbana doesn't hold good too.Since now the path doesn't lead to nibbanna (to him), therefore the person who first prescribed it can't have the attributes of a Buddha.So whoever first declared the path was a "fake Buddha", ie Buddha only in the name, not in conduct & attributes.

I hope this answers your question.

bodom wrote:In the "read" is only the "read"..thus should you train yourselves Dhammawheel members. When for you there will be only the "read" in the "read" then, Dhammawheel members, there is no you in terms of that. When there is no you in terms of that, there is no you there. When there is no you there, you are neither here nor yonder nor between the two. This, just this, is the end of stress."

Bubbabuddhist wrote:It seems to have attracted the anhedoniacs of the Buddhist world. Which is too bad, I've found the longer I've practiced the more I've learned to as they say, lighten up. May all sentient beings find something to laugh about once in a while.

Just that! *smile*...We Buddhists must find the courage to leave our temples and enter the temples of human experience, temples that are filled with suffering. If we listen to Buddha, Christ, or Gandhi, we can do nothing else. The refugee camps, the prisons, the ghettos, and the battlefields will become our temples. We have so much work to do. ... Peace is Possible! Step by Step. - Samtach Preah Maha Ghosananda "Step by Step" http://www.ghosananda.org/bio_book.html

BUT! it is important to become a real Buddhist first. Like Punna did: Punna Sutta Nate sante baram sokham _()_

The story strikes some chord with me as I was (and still am) in a rough patch for many years now. It tells me to take heart and that eventually the good karma that I have created in this life will manifest, though not likely in this life but in a future life.